Environmental policies and laws: A brief Introduction

When we heal earth, we heal ourselves!

Environmental laws and policies are the rules that totally relate to environmental issues. Understanding the environmental issues can be tough at first, but if we understand the importance of nature in our lives, we could counter the complexities of the environment and would be ready to take responsibility for the conservation of nature. The protection of the environment with limited and sustainable use of natural resources is listed in the constitutional framework of India and mentioned in the international commitments of India too.

The Indian Constitution under the Part IV-A (Art 51A-Fundamental Duties) lists that it is the duty of every citizen of India to conserve and better the natural environment including forests, water bodies, and wildlife, and hold a sense of compassion towards the living creatures. Under Part IV (Art 48A-Directive Principles of State Policies), the citizens of India shall endeavor to conserve the environment and protect the forests, water- life and wildlife of the country.

THE MAIN GOAL

To balance the resource use and decrease environmental pollution to work towards human welfare and protect natural resources and encourage it for the future. This environmental crisis reaches heights when the natural resources which are accessible publicly get overused and this unregulated usage led to contaminate the resources and is responsible for its damage.

Some of the Indian Environmental laws and policies are listed down:

1.  The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

2.  The Wildlife Protection Act

3.  The Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA -8749)

4.  The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA- 9003)

5.  The Clean Water Act (RA- 9275) Environmental Awareness and Education

6.  The Act of 2009 (RA -9512)

7.  The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

8.  The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

9.  The Environment Protection Act, 1986

10.The Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, etc.

Implementing Indian Environmental Policies (An example)

• 1) The Wildlife protection Act was legislated in the year 1972 in India. The main goal of the Wildlife protection act is to protect wildlife.
• 2) The act was implemented to formalize the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, conservation and community reserves.
• 3) The act worked towards the protection of wildlife habitat within premises and conservation of these areas, development of the National and state Board for Wildlife to identify the future protected areas.
• 4) The Wildlife Protection Act also executed to spot the Penal codes for animal poaching, and trade in products derived from protected animals.

Indian Environmental laws: What we can do?

The laws and policies were executed and more will come in the future, but as the citizens of the country, we should realize our responsibilities to protect our country. The solution of the environmental issues lies within us and we should be ready to work towards it.